Influence of switching from dulaglutide to oral semaglutide on glycaemic control and clinical parameters in Japanese patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes: a retrospective, observational study

Aims: This study sought to evaluate retrospectively how switching from dulaglutide to oral semaglutide affected glycaemic control and clinical parameters in patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: The study included 18 patients with well-controlled T2DM (mean HbA1c 6.99%) who were taking dulaglutide. HbA1c levels and clinical parameters were measured at baseline and two, four and six months later. Changes in these parameters during the study period were assessed retrospectively. Results: HbA1c levels at two months from baseline were significantly higher than at baseline (7.43 ± 0.72 vs. 6.99 ± 0.39%, p = 0.003), whereas no significant change was observed at four or six months from baseline. Subjects with improved glycaemic control at six months from baseline (n = 5) had significantly lower gamma-glutamyl transferase levels at baseline compared to those who did not show improvement (n = 13) (13.8 ± 3.0 vs. 47.9 ± 53.6 IU/L, p = 0.026). Notably, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at six months were significantly higher than at baseline (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Glycaemic control worsened temporarily after switching from dulaglutide to oral semaglutide, but no significant difference was observed between baseline and six months later.